F15DOC Posted June 10, 2008 Report Posted June 10, 2008 (edited) I accidentally hijacked a thread when buying a watch and decided this would be a good topic. What are the"Must Have" watches in the Aviation world? I would be looking to build up my gen collection based upon those, but I am going to buy one of these gens that are currently being offered to my squadron by Bretling: This will probably be my only gen, the rest of my aviation watches will be reps, based upon your recommendations. I took some pictures of my first ever rep (Rolex) in the Eagle last year and got some chuckles out of members here that I would take a sailing watch into the sky So what are your thoughts on aviation watches for me? Edited June 10, 2008 by F15DOC
Seadweller4000 Posted June 10, 2008 Report Posted June 10, 2008 First of all thank you for sharing these cool pictures. I would suggest you an ETA 7750 Valjoux based IWC 3717 Flieberchronograph. It is a really nice watch, very close to gen and, most important, the movement is very reliable even under dogfight conditions. (Be aware that the ETA 2824 and 2836 are pretty vulnerable to g-forces, so an ETA based chronograph is much better choice for you as ETA 2892 or 2893 reps are very rare these days). Hope this helps!
JohnG Posted June 10, 2008 Report Posted June 10, 2008 I would be looking to build up my gen collection based upon those, but I am going to buy one of these gens that are currently being offered to my squadron by Bretling: Amazing pictures - amazing machine you are driving. Do they PAY you to fly that? So do you get a special deal on the Breitling through your squadron? I ask because maybe we could do a group-buy at the special price? Please?
b16a2 Posted June 10, 2008 Report Posted June 10, 2008 The military (speaking for the RAF and RN Fleet Air Arm here in the UK) have links with Breitling, and you can go to Breitling with a design, and have it custom made as long as they have at least 50 watches to produce.
JohnG Posted June 10, 2008 Report Posted June 10, 2008 The military (speaking for the RAF and RN Fleet Air Arm here in the UK) have links with Breitling, and you can go to Breitling with a design, and have it custom made as long as they have at least 50 watches to produce. GROUP BUY!!!!!! How about a gen with "Breitling for RWG" on the face!
F15DOC Posted June 10, 2008 Author Report Posted June 10, 2008 As the flight surgeon for my figher squadron I get plenty of back seat time. All the enjoyment of flying without the negatives Here is a shot taken of us by a friend in a tanker Love your shots b16A2
rek001 Posted June 10, 2008 Report Posted June 10, 2008 Your job is too cool. Exactly what does a flight surgeon do?
deltatahoe Posted June 10, 2008 Report Posted June 10, 2008 if you could afford it, the iwc big pilot would be the one genuine i'd go for -- it is the clear pilot watch of choice imho deltatahoe
robertk Posted June 10, 2008 Report Posted June 10, 2008 When I flew A6 skyhawks (Marines) back in the 60's, the watch of choice was a breitling navitimer. still have it.
b16a2 Posted June 10, 2008 Report Posted June 10, 2008 @ F15DOC, I am in total admiration of your job, and what you do for your country. I won't go into detail here but my goal was always to join the RAF as a pilot. I really take my hat off to the job you guys do, it's hard work, and at a time when we are fighting battles all over the globe, with resources being stretched to their limits, never has it been so evident how highly professional the US and UK military personnel are.
F15DOC Posted June 10, 2008 Author Report Posted June 10, 2008 I always thought the Breitlings were the "professional" pilot's watch of choice. Here is my list or reps to get so far: Breitling Navitimer IWC Big Pilot What others?
deltatahoe Posted June 10, 2008 Report Posted June 10, 2008 the breitling navitimer reps are top quality (after a real double AR coating, the sunken datewheel on the 3-6-9 configuration is the only other meaningful issue with these), but i wouldn't plan on getting a replica iwc big pilot -- there just aren't any available that come close to doing justice to the real deal.... deltatahoe
Guest avitt Posted June 11, 2008 Report Posted June 11, 2008 I'm not a fighter pilot (but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night ). Thinking this Oris looks pretty functional...and the price is pretty good.
Guest Carl Posted June 11, 2008 Report Posted June 11, 2008 The classic pilot watch was the Rolex GMT Master which was reputedly created for Pan Am pilots. It was quickly accepted by them and also by TWA pilots. Rolex still touts it as a pilot watch on it's website. Carl
robertk Posted June 11, 2008 Report Posted June 11, 2008 The classic pilot watch was the Rolex GMT Master which was reputedly created for Pan Am pilots. It was quickly accepted by them and also by TWA pilots. Rolex still touts it as a pilot watch on it's website. Carl That was also very popular with the military, mostly air force. I had one for years but still preferred the navi.
jetzeus Posted June 11, 2008 Report Posted June 11, 2008 Maybe not the ULTIMATE pilot's watch, but I find it useful!
ATEspo Posted June 11, 2008 Report Posted June 11, 2008 I ALWAYS wanted to be a pilot, I would do anything to go to flight school when I had the chance in highschool....
jeroen1985 Posted June 11, 2008 Report Posted June 11, 2008 My flightschool will begin the 17th of july... I'm going to fly those big planes 747's , 757's 777 etc...
The Mentalist Posted June 11, 2008 Report Posted June 11, 2008 I always thought the Breitlings were the "professional" pilot's watch of choice. Here is my list or reps to get so far: Breitling Navitimer IWC Big Pilot What others? All the Eagle pilots at Lakenheath seem to wear Rolex Explorers. I asked my buddy there, callsign 'Batman' (What a friggin' cool callsign), why this was and he said the dual timezone facility was handy for 'operational purposes'.
F15DOC Posted June 11, 2008 Author Report Posted June 11, 2008 (edited) OK, so here is the list of suggestions so far: IWC 3717 Flieberchronograph, ETA 7750 Valjoux IWC Big Pilot Breitling Navitimer Oris - (What Model?) Rolex GMT Master Bell&Ross (What Model, is this really a pilot watch?) Rolex Explorer (I or II?) Edited June 11, 2008 by F15DOC
Guest avitt Posted June 11, 2008 Report Posted June 11, 2008 Oris - (What Model?) Oris Flight Timer R4118
The Mentalist Posted June 11, 2008 Report Posted June 11, 2008 OK, so here is the list of suggestions so far: IWC 3717 Flieberchronograph, ETA 7750 Valjoux IWC Big Pilot Breitling Navitimer Oris - (What Model?) Rolex GMT Master Bell&Ross (What Model, is this really a pilot watch?) Rolex Explorer (I or II?) My buddy and most of his squadron wear Explorer II but quite a few wear GMT-Masters (I imagine for the same reason that the Explorer II is favoured). None wear Breitlings.
F15DOC Posted June 11, 2008 Author Report Posted June 11, 2008 (edited) OK, so here is the list of suggestions so far: IWC 3717 Flieberchronograph, ETA 7750 Valjoux IWC Big Pilot Breitling Navitimer Oris Flight Timer Rolex GMT Master Bell&Ross (What Model, is this really a pilot watch?) Rolex Explorer II Edited June 11, 2008 by F15DOC
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